To the casual observer, the Indian Ocean appears as a series of disconnected crises—a coup in an island nation, a drone strike in a shipping lane, or a new runway on a remote atoll. But for the strategist, these are not isolated events. They are “symptoms of the seam,” recurring flashpoints where the friction of […]
Why the World Can’t Look Away from the Indian Ocean Read More »
In the age of satellite warfare and cyber-espionage, the global economy remains tethered to the physical world by seven narrow maritime “throats.” These chokepoints—some no wider than a city park—are the jugular veins of the Indian Ocean Region (IOR). As 2025 demonstrated, a single disruption at these points does not merely delay cargo; it re-prices
Seven Chokepoints That Can Break the World: The Geopolitics of the Indian Ocean Read More »
To the map-maker, the Indian Ocean is a vast blue expanse bounded by three continents. To the strategist, it is something entirely different: a “Mandala of Interests”—a complex, overlapping system where every actor views the water through a unique and often contradictory lens. While the world’s navies agree that trade must flow, they disagree profoundly
Who Cares About the Indian Ocean and Why: The Mandala of Interests Read More »
In the annals of maritime history, 2025 will likely be recorded not as a year of explosive conflict, but as the year of “structural erosion.” While the world’s attention was often diverted by the high-velocity crises of the Levant and the Pacific, the Indian Ocean Region (IOR) sent a series of quiet, persistent signals that
Indian Ocean Security in 2025: Signals, Risks, and Warnings for 2026 Read More »
Along the diverse and resource-rich East African coastline, the escalating impacts of climate change are not merely environmental concerns; they are rapidly morphing into critical maritime security challenges. Countries like Kenya, Tanzania, and Mozambique, already contending with socio-economic pressures, now face a new front in securing their maritime domains as environmental shifts erode traditional stability.
Climate Change & Coastal Security: New Challenges for East African Littorals Read More »
